Looking for a quick online MSN degree.

[Chris the Nurse]

I am a 25 year old RN with 4 years of full time ICU experience. I graduated with my ADN at age 21 and have since acquired my BSN. I recently got rejected from CRNA school. Upon speaking with the director of the program she informed me that they (the admissions board) really liked me in the interview and also considered both my GRE scores and my BSN GPA to be exceptional. However, I put absolutely no effort into my ADN program and my GPA from there was low enough to pull my overall GPA down to a 2.92 (she said if it had been 3.0 I would've been in). I was 19 and knew I could pass with relatively no effort, partying was more fun and C's get degrees. I regret the indiscretions of my youth, but can't do much more than that now. That director informed my that the only way to get into CRNA school would be to either apply at other programs and hope someone would accept my based on the amount I have matured, or get a masters degree in order to give my GPA a much needed bump. My plan is to apply at other programs while working towards a MSN degree. That all being said, I need suggestions regarding the quickest or easiest MSN or Masters in Healthcare degree. I live in Indiana but plan to do it all online. Any and all advice is welcome! Thank you in advance.

TL; DR I need to get a masters degree as quickly as possible to give my GPA a bump so I can get into CRNA school.

[mzaur]

Why don't you just retake some classes at a CC and raise your cumulative to a 3.0? Or you might be able to take graduate level courses at a university without enrolling in a degree program. This would of course look better.

[Chris the Nurse]

What she told me (and this may be specific to this particular program) was once a degree is completed other courses won't effect your calculated GPA. If I were to have a masters degree of some sort then then its GPA would be the only one considered. Prior to speaking with her my plan had been to take a few undergrad chem courses since I only have one.

[mzaur]

Odd. But didn't you get a BSN after the ADN? I don't get why the previous GPA is even relevant and why classes taken outside of a degree don't count. Honestly I'd consider another program. I doubt other programs have such rules. Getting a Masters just to raise a GPA is a huge time and money commitment. Id do this only as a last resort. You have other, better options

[fteralynn3]

Union University in Jackson, TN has a MSN for Administration or Education in 15 months. (fall, spring, summer, fall) and it's all online. It's a great school.

[Chris the Nurse]

Thank you for the reply. Over the past couple days I've done a lot of research on this and I don't think I'm going to sink the money into a throw-away degree in order to bump my GPA. Probably going to be taking 2 chem classes and the graduate biostats class, over the summer, at the state university from which I got my BSN. I only have an intro to chem course and with 2 gen chem courses I will be able to apply to a lot more schools. I'm willing to relocate so applying to multiple schools is no problem for me.

[mzaur]

Good decision :)

[sbostonRN]

I think that's a great idea. As long as your BSN grades and chem course grades are good, you should be able to sell the fact that you've learned from the mistakes of your youth and are serious about pursuing the CRNA route.

Good luck!

[Chris the Nurse]

I was hoping my improved scores would sell the fact that I've learned and grown this year. Next go around I'm just going to have to make sure I bring it up and make sure they see it. Thanks for the advice and encouragement all!